64 Noves ON THE Birps OF DUMFRIESSHIRE. 
sion. The damage done by Rooks to crops is referred to in 
an Act of Parliament of James I. of Scotland (May, 1424). 
It was estimated in 1827 that the damage done by Rooks to 
seed-wheat in Kirkmahoe parish amounted to 4,350 annually, 
besides injury to the potato crops. On 22nd March, 1844 
[not March 23rd, 1855, as I have previously recorded |, the 
members of the Lockerby (sic) Farmers’ Club, on account of 
‘‘ the great amount of damage done annually to turnips and 
other crops by Rooks and Wood Pigeons,’’ requested pro- 
prietors in the district to reduce the number of the former as 
far as practicable. Sir William Jardine, it is interesting to 
note, seems to have been in favour of checking, but not of 
exterminating, the Rook. 
Mr W. F. Graham of Mossknowe (Kirkpatrick-Fleming) 
tells me that the rookery in ‘‘ Sand-pit Wood,’’ near his 
home, was deserted in the spring of 1916. A great explosion 
occurred early one morning at the Government factory at 
Dornock, some four miles off, and a few hours later the 
Rooks collected together, flew round once or twice, and 
then left the rookery; the nests all had eggs but the birds 
never came back to them. Rookeries which were nearer to 
Dornock than the one near Mossknowe were not deserted 
but Mr Graham points out that his rookery was on much 
higher ground than the others and that it faced towards 
Dornock. Sound-waves of great explosions have been found 
to travel long distances from the centre of the disturbance 
and birds are known to be affected thereby. The immediate 
cause of their disquiet is unknown, but it is supposed to be 
due either to actual perception of the sound of explosion or 
to shock caused by air-wave concussion. 
In the spring of 1922 several Rooks were picked up dead 
in certain rookeries near Dumfries. [he carcases of some of 
these birds were submitted to an analyst who, on examination, 
discovered phosphorus in large quantities in their stomachs; 
it would seem probable that these Rooks had eaten some 
poisoned food put down, presumably, to kill rats. 
Mr C. Mackay Sanderson has sent me the following 
